Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

To save patients from the world's #1 cause of death-NCDs, which includes cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, requires systematic action focused on prevention and care for the disease.

NCDs are the number one cause of death worldwide, according to the WHO, with 38 million people dying due to NCDs in 2012-equivalent to 68% of the 56 million global death toll. The biggest burden of NCDs is in the low- and middle-income countries, where 80% of all NCD-related deaths were reported that year.1,2

According to the definition of WHO, NCDs are preventable diseases through lifestyle modification of the common causes such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and excessive alcohol use. For a narrow definition, it consists of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disease. There is yet to be a formal agreement if mental illness and trauma should be added into the group of NCDs although the issues have been widely discussed.

1.

World Health Organization, "Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-2020"

In 2011, the Political Declaration of the UN High-Level Meeting, calling for the international community to work together towards the prevention and control of NCDs, was adopted. In 2013, WHO announced the "Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases 2013-2020". The Global Action Plan focuses on four specific NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes), and on four shared behavioral risk factors (tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol). To highlight the need for the "prevention and management of NCDs", the Global Action Plan sets a goal of "25 by 25" (reducing the rate of premature mortality due to NCDs by 25% by the year 2025) through multi-sectoral collaboration and cooperation at national, regional and global levels, and proposes a menu of policy options under six interconnected and mutually reinforcing objectives*. On 27 September 2018 September, the third High-level Meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs will be held in the United Nations General Assembly, which will undertake a comprehensive review of the global and national progress achieved in putting measures in place that protect people from dying too young from heart and lung diseases, cancers and diabetes.

In 2011, IFPMA (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations) launched the "Framework for Action for the Prevention and Control of NCDs" and has made NCDs a top-level priority of its activities. Since launching the Framework, IFPMA has done much to build alliances with influential actors to address NCDs and has a website to show our industrys commitments to fighting NCDs. JPMA supports the IFPMA Framework and will seek possible cooperation with various stakeholders in order to help improve the prevention and control of NCDs.

Over the years, JPMA member companies have researched and developed numerous leading medicines for the treatment of NCDs that are sold around the world today. JPMA member companies continue to make great efforts to research and develop innovative new medicines in the NCDs field, both in their own research facilities and in partnership with other stakeholders around the world. Furthermore, as JPMA member companies expand their presence globally, they continue to seek new ways to improve access to these new medicines not only in developed countries but also in developing countries.

*

Menu of policy options under six interconnected and mutually reinforcing objectives

International cooperation and advocacy: To raise the priority accorded to the prevention and control of NCDs in global, regional and national agendas and internationally agreed development goals, through strengthened international cooperation and advocacy.

Country-led multi-sectorial response: To strengthen national capacity, leadership, governance, multisectoral action and partnerships to accelerate country response for the prevention and control of NCDs.

Risk factors and determinants: To reduce modifiable risk factors for NCDs and underlying social determinants through creation of health-promoting environments.

Health systems and universal health coverage: To strengthen and orient health systems to address the prevention and control of NCDs and the underlying social determinants through people-centred primary health care and universal health coverage.

Research, development and innovation: To promote and support national capacity for high-quality research and development for the prevention and control of NCDs.

Surveillance and monitoring: To monitor the trends and determinants of NCDs and evaluate progress in their prevention and control.

Initiatives by member companies

Eisai conducts Tiered Pricing in order to improve access to new anti-cancer agent (by income bracket pricing).

Eisai is attempting to set multiple prices based on the income level of the patient to allow access to innovative novel anti-cancer agents (Tiered Pricing).

International Diabetes Education E-Learning Program (IDEEL)

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., in partnership with the international NGO "Project Hope", has been supporting the expansion of an online diabetes educator course known as International Diabetes Educator E-Learning (IDEEL) from India. The IDEEL program is provided to medical professionals in developing countries.